Addition Remodel 17

After. Before.

After. Before -The former house had many design issues, primarily due to several additions over the past few decades, which moved the 'public' area of the home to the rear of the site - along with the primary entrance. The former entry porch was no longer used - confusing many first time visitors to the home (the real entry is behind that bush on the left). The next 3 pictures will give a brief history of the home.

Home history (1 of 3): The home prior to a remodel by the previous owners in the early 80's. What you see here is the original structure, and behind are two additions completed sometime in the 1930's - 1950's. Confusing? The new remodel will be the fourth major remodel to the home. Home history (2 of 3): The rear of the home showing to the right addition #1, what appears to be possibly a former Family Room addition. In the center, addition #2, a later remodel adding a bathroom and possibly a Kitchen. In the foreground, the 80's addition foundation is recently poured. Note the location of the small window as a point of reference for the next photo. This little bump out is incorporated in the 80's addition, visible in the next photo. Home history (3 of 3): The Master Suite and Kitchen addition (the 80's addition) by the previous owners. The small window now in the covered entry. A nice addition featuring a full richly detailed Master Suite on the upper level, and a spacious naturally lit Kitchen and Laundry Room on the lower level. This was not an addition completed by Strite design + remodel.

Before - Here is a picture before our start. This portion of the home, for the most part, remained intact. We did include this former covered area into the home to provide a space for Dining. Note the bathroom window, still there, but not for long. During - The first bite.

The former foundation disintegrated. Also note the beam support in the center left of the picture, a pile of old bricks. Another shot of the former foundation.

An 800 lb steel beam to span across the kitchen, being lifted in place. We use steel to allow a continuous flat ceiling in the Kitchen and new Dining space. Note the plywood under the white wall at the right of the picture, this is protecting a cabinet that was saved. More on that later. Dining space framed in featuring direct access to Patio. The entry is now well defined from the entry to the property, and more importantly connects directly to the public area of the home.

The trusses were very large and heavy. They were hand carried on site, stacked, then lifted by crane. Installing the trusses on an overcast winter day.

After. Before - The Kitchen window can be seen in the distance through the hallway, and to the left - one of the former bathrooms. The stairs can be seen leading up to the Master Suite. These stairs remained. During - The 80's addition by itself, with a little bit of the old (the Bathroom) behind the red wall.

After - Installing the paint grade trim work, very detailed and labor intensive - resulting in a dramatic impact. All the wood work mimics the existing home's details. Note how the hardwood floor is protected during the last stages of the remodel. Before - Lets take a look at the fractured layout of the former home. The Family Room was located at the opposite end of the home from the Kitchen. To reach the Kitchen from here, there were 3 spaces to walk through. Before - Continuing to the Kitchen, the Dining space with stairs to the Master Suite. The Hall ahead steps down and you must step up again to enter the Powder room on the left. This is the room with the small window mentioned earlier. Watch the red wall... During - Removing the bath, a difficult task due to the old and the new completely encasing it. Backhoe + chain = power.

During - Same view, door removed off of stairwell. Note the stairs were reconfigured to 'land' in traffic flow, not in the middle of the room. The space to the left of the stairs contains the Pantry (accessible from the other side) and the Mechanical room. The new hardwood flooring is being installed at the time of this picture, the flooring ties into the existing Kitchen floor. Note the flat ceiling in the Kitchen - evidence of the steel beam doing it's job. During - The white door was installed to block access to the Master Suite, which remained intact. A temporary insulated wall was installed in the Kitchen to keep the Kitchen warm, and to provide security. The new Family Room wall on the left is newly framed. Note the former mechanical space at the right, this was slightly relocated to accommodate a new walk-in Pantry.

After - Looking into the new Family Room from the existing Kitchen. Note cabinets to the left, with art wall above. The new Patio is accessible through the door at the right. The owners enjoy many of their meals outside, direct access from the Kitchen ideal. Before - One last look at the before, this time from the Kitchen looking down the hall into the former Dining space. Note the step in the hallway. The cabinets in the Hall were saved, and feature lighting will be installed to light the wall above them, as this space is now part of the new Dining area. During - Same view, note cabinets are protected by OSB at the left side of the picture.